Trees

Hiroshima (広島)

Peace Memorial Park and Peace Museum

Please remember the victims on that fated day.

The visit began with getting lost along the way from Okonomi-mura to the Peace Memorial Park. I did not know what to expect, but getting lost paved out the chance to give me some thinking time about I could expect, what emotions it will bring and to reduce my excitement and enthusiasm from the okonomiyaki before (I was indeed extremely satisfied)

I walked through what appeared to be a sports facility and complex, a few other parks and various streets. It occurred to me just how Hiroshima looked at this point. From my understanding it is a place that was rebuilt after the A-bomb and therefore it is in some way renewed and made afresh.

But how much exactly? From what extent of damage did it recover from?

I was about to find out.

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I encountered the A-bomb dome. A nuclear weapon exploded directly above this. It still stands today.

Right above.

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I encountered various memorials where paper cranes are placed as a symbol of unity and peace.

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I encountered the museum that conveyed the horrors of the A-Bomb in two harrowing sections of the building.

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I encountered the chilled feeling when reading about the events that unfolded til the explosion

The solemness that the building and the people inside conveyed.

The harrowing reality as I moved from reading about the prequel to the explosion to looking at the effects on victims.

The crescendo of emotions as I saw actual artefacts belonging to victims who perished shortly after horrific burns.

The charred hair and skin donated by families of the victims.

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The experience left me saddened. Yet prior to visiting to the Peace Memorial Museum I had heard and read stories of renewal, acts and deeds that gave hope to the citizens of Hiroshima after that day. Among all, the one that particularly stood out to me is about the ‘Hibaku Jumoku’.

These are the ‘survivor trees’.

Trees that were less than a kilometer from the epicenter of the blast.

Trees that burst with life despite encountering a calamity the world had never seen before.

Trees that rejuvenate giving fresh hope to the hopeless and lost.

Trees, that after being scorched by searing temperatures that melted flesh and clothes, stood to defy the atrocity that mankind has inflicted on one another.

I had came to Japan to know about her nature wonders and seek out the trees that make this country. These entities of wood and water have redefined their significance and role in our lives. If cranes are the symbol of peace for Hiroshima, then trees are the symbols and statements that scream out to world that nothing can quell the spirit of those who fight for righteousness.

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For my part as a lover of trees and how they work physically, I want to show how exactly they be strong and continue to do so. I was a bit sad that in my time in visiting this one particular tree right next to the Peace Museum, no one came to visit the tree.

Don’t worry oh lonely survivor. I will continue to show you to the world.

After over half a century, the scars still remain.

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Despite the solemnity of this post there is an avenue that we can take joy in:

Chino of the day

Yakushima (屋久島) – Day 2 in the mountains

The weather turned out to be very beautiful. The sun was nice and bright and it felt dry.
It also meant my shorts became dry quick with a combination of body heat and sun (it wasn’t nice putting wet shorts on at first)

It was a tough hike from Shiratani to Shintakatsu hut, probably a 6-7 hour hike. Along the way I met many guide-led groups who would have started their hike very early in order to get to Jomon-sugi (the main attraction of the mountains). It is a five hour hike from Shiratani hut to Jomon Sugi. Because the trail is narrow it mean that many times I would wait a couple of minutes for the tour groups to go the opposite direction. As I did not leave as early, I was near Jomon-sugi around 3pm where most groups were heading BACK to Shiratani and the carpark there. However I was treated as a bit of a celebrity, as many guides would stop their groups and describe me and my prowess of tackling the mountain and the days I will spend in the mountains.

Oh yeah.

Around 4.30pm I reach Jomon-sugi and I must say it is a beautiful tree, definitely the king of the mountain. Sources say that it is around 2500-7000 years old. What an age. The character of the sugi (cryptomeria japonica) simply speaks of its age and ancient wonder.

I was very glad to finally see this tree being my second time in Yakushima.

After a bit of alone time with Jomon-sugi (all the tour groups have left already), I departed for Shintakatsu hut which was about 1.5km hike. Along the way I met a chap who informed me to be careful of mice in the huts up ahead. Caution taken. I reached the hut and it was FULL. Fortunately there are spaces that I could camp out in and a few people were already camping out. I personally prefer a tent than sharing a smelly concrete hut with people and rats anyway.

NEXT DAY!

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This is the trail that I took today

Shiratani-Usukiyo to Shintakatsu via Jomon-sugi

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Plenty of moss. It is sub-tropical yet the moss is abundant.

The nature is spectacular. There is a 2km hike via some old rails that were used for Yakushima’s logging times (now no longer in use as Yakushima is UNESCO World Heritage)